5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Spark Joy
Have you ever heard of a JOY LIST? It’s pretty much what it sounds like…it’s a list of things that bring you JOY! I like to keep one in my mindfulness journal so that I can peek at it if I find myself in need of a pick me up. Most of the things on my joy list take some time so I wanted to put together a list of 5 things that you can do RIGHT NOW to spark some joy ✨
These things are wallet friendly and won’t take more than a few minutes!
one. Change your alarm clock tone.
This one is SO simple and I’m telling y’all that it really has made my mornings a little bit brighter. I’m not the type of person to jump out of bed and skip merrily into the day. I’m not a morning person exactly so waking up to an upbeat, fun alarm tone is a quick way to boost my mood from the get go.
I used to have a loud siren sound as my alarm tone and I would want to throw my phone out the window every time I heard it go off. Now when I hear my alarm go off it’s a more enjoyable experience. It doesn’t make me a morning person necessarily, but it’s something small that makes my mornings a little better.
Who wouldn’t want to wake up wanting to dance rather than chucking their phone, ya know?
two. Create or listen to a playlist of your favorite songs.
Music and fresh air are two things that are almost sure to boost my mood quickly. I spent some time making a playlist on Spotify called “Sounds Like High School” that is …you guessed it… all of my favorite songs from high school. I can’t play it without singing along and smiling. I have a few playlists saved on Spotify, some that I made and some that I found through searching. I shared my high school throwback playlist on Instagram and so many of y’all loved it so you can click here to check it out if alternative-style music was your jam, lol
three. Write down 5 things you are grateful for.
I’m a big believer that acknowledging what you are grateful for by writing down a gratitude list every day is life changing. This simple practice has helped reroute my thought patterns and turned me into a more positive person. If you know that you are going to write down a few things that you are grateful for each morning then chances are you’re going to be on the hunt throughout your days for things that you can write down. This practice has helped me be more present and focus on the blessings that my life is filled with.
four. Step outside and take 3 deep breaths.
Fresh air is good for the soul. And so are deep, intentional breaths. This one is FREE and hardly takes any time at all. All you have to do is step outside and take 3 nice deep breaths. When I do this, I like to mentally think “inhale love” as I inhale and “exhale fear” as I exhale. I really exaggerate my inhales and exhales. Obviously this doesn’t solve any problems but it gives you a moment to clear your head, gather your thoughts, and return to what you were doing with a fresh perspective.
five. Call a loved one and tell them you are thinking about them.
Another simple one that makes all the difference. The other day, I called my mom on the phone (we rarely talk on the phone) just to ask how she was doing and to let her know that I was thinking of her. Not only did it make her day, it made mine. After hanging up, I was reminded that no matter how “busy” we are, at our core we were created to connect with others. To love and to be loved. So pick up your phone and call (not text) a loved one to check in on them.
Isn’t it awesome that we get to choose how we go into each day? If we consciously choose to be joyful then we will find joy in our days. Where we focus our thoughts plays a big role in what our lives look like. You are in charge of your mind, and if you notice a negative thought trying to creep in then you can decide to not let that thought grow and dominate your day. Choose to let it pass and grab onto something from your joy list instead.
Living a positive life takes work and dedication but it is so worth it. Be a light, girlfriend!